In this blog, I reflect on why biodiversity loss matters, and how creative practice can help us respond.
The statistics are stark.
Around the world, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% since 1970. One million species are now at risk of extinction. Here in the UK, biodiversity has declined by 19% since the 1970s, while 97% of our wildflower meadows have disappeared.
These figures tell a story of loss, but they also reveal something deeper. Biodiversity is not simply about wildlife. It is the intricate web of life that supports our food, clean water, health, economies, and cultural heritage. When nature declines, the effects ripple through every aspect of society.
This is why I believe the Royal School of Needlework’s Fragile Threads project is so timely and important.
For centuries, embroidery has celebrated the natural world. Flowers, birds, insects, leaves and landscapes have inspired makers across generations. Nature has always been woven into our creative traditions. Yet many of the species and habitats that have inspired artists for centuries are now under threat.
Through embroidery, Fragile Threads offers a powerful way to bring these environmental challenges into focus. Stitch by stitch, it transforms complex scientific issues into something tangible, personal and emotionally resonant. Embroidery encourages us to slow down, observe closely, and reconnect with the extraordinary detail and beauty of the natural world, qualities that are sometimes overlooked in conversations about biodiversity.
Importantly, this is not only a story of loss. The biodiversity crisis is also one of hope and recovery. Across the UK, rewilding projects, habitat restoration schemes and community-led conservation initiatives are demonstrating that nature can recover when given the chance. From the return of nightingales at Knepp Estate to the restoration of wetlands that support thousands of species, positive change is possible.
Fragile Threads sits at the intersection of creativity, heritage and environmental action. It reminds us that conservation is not solely the responsibility of scientists and policymakers. Artists, designers, makers, cultural organisations and communities all have a vital role to play in shaping how people understand and value the natural world.
By using the enduring language of embroidery to tell stories about biodiversity, Fragile Threads helps transform statistics into connection, concern into curiosity, and awareness into action.
Because the threads that connect people to nature may be fragile, but they are not yet broken.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Fragile Threads is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.